US authorities face mounting pressure to fully investigate alleged CIA links connected to Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the National Guard shooting suspect accused in the December 10, 2025, attack in Washington, DC that killed Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Public concern continues to grow over whether security screenings adequately examined Lakanwal’s past involvement in US-backed operations following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
CIA Backed Zero Units And Afghanistan’s Shadow War
Lakanwal reportedly served in a so-called Zero Unit, an Afghan strike force trained, funded, and overseen by the CIA as part of covert counterterrorism missions. These units operated outside traditional military command structures and followed looser rules of engagement, a structure that human rights organizations say contributed to widespread civilian harm.
Human Rights Watch documentation shows that Zero Units were frequently implicated in night raids, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and attacks based on faulty intelligence or personal rivalries. Civilian victims included medical workers, family members, and villagers accused without evidence of supporting insurgents.
Independent investigations recorded multiple deadly incidents involving Zero Units. In October 2018, a CIA backed unit killed five civilians, including a child, during a raid in Nangarhar province. Another raid in Paktia province in December 2018 resulted in the execution of six civilians, with witnesses reporting deliberate close range killings.
Despite these reports, accountability remained minimal. US Special Forces often operated alongside Zero Units, yet unclear command responsibility complicated investigations and disciplinary action.
Abusive tactics by CIA aligned units undermined US counterterrorism goals by alienating local communities, according to analysts and Afghan civil society groups. Civilian harm linked to night raids and arbitrary killings contributed to Taliban recruitment by fueling resentment and fear among affected populations.
Refugees Should Not Bear Responsibility
Policy decisions during President Trump’s first term further deepened controversy. Several US Special Forces members accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq received presidential pardons, raising concerns about institutional tolerance for abuses.
Public statements at the time shifted blame toward Afghan refugees, despite many fleeing precisely because they supported US efforts and faced retaliation from the Taliban.
Other countries involved in Afghanistan have begun confronting similar legacies. Australia’s Brereton Report confirmed credible evidence of war crimes by its special forces, leading to criminal referrals and reforms. United Kingdom authorities have also launched investigations into alleged summary executions by British forces.
Calls For A Full US Inquiry
Focus from rights groups now centers on examining whether US intelligence agencies adequately assessed risks linked to former Zero Unit members resettled in the United States. Accountability advocates argue scrutiny must target policy failures and covert operations rather than scapegoating refugees who escaped conflict zones.
Understanding the full scope of CIA involvement and oversight remains critical for preventing future violence and restoring trust in resettlement and security screening systems
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